NYOS — 1986 · Major Tragedy

The Lake Nyos Disaster

On the evening of 21 August 1986 Lake Nyos, a volcanic crater lake in north-western Cameroon, suddenly released hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide that had built up in its depths, in a rare event known as a limnic eruption. Heavier than air, the gas cloud flowed down the valleys and settled over the villages of Nyos, Kam, Cha and Subum within a 25-kilometre radius. 1,746 people and around 3,500 head of livestock were asphyxiated, many in their sleep. The trigger was never established with certainty; a landslide, volcanic activity or rain-driven overturning have all been suggested. From 2001 degassing pipes were installed, and by 2019 the lake's gas level had been brought down to a safe state.

Date

1986

Place

Northwest Region, Cameroon, Nyos, CM

Category

Major Tragedy

Case Status

Closed

Coordinates

6.4400, 10.3000 ↗

🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.